A&D HL-300WP vs SK-5000WP: Compact Precision vs Higher Capacity
- pete8781
- Jul 31
- 4 min read
Need more details or help choosing the correct item? Call MNM Scales at (832) 290-3120 or email mnmscales@yahoo.com.
The A&D HL-300WP vs SK-5000WP decision is a choice between small-batch tenth-gram process resolution and much higher foodservice capacity with legal-for-trade certification. HL-300WP provides 300 g × 0.1 g on a 128 × 128 mm pan and is not NTEP. SK-5000WP provides 5000 g × 2 g, 11 lb × 0.005 lb and 176 oz × 0.1 oz on a 232 × 192 mm pan and is Class III NTEP on current CoC 98-086A3. Both are A&D food-oriented washdown families with NSF compliance, but they solve very different weighing problems.
HL-300WP: finer resolution, small gross capacity
HL-300WP's 0.1 g readability is twenty times finer than the SK-5000WP's 2 g metric division. That makes HL useful for coffee, spices, flavoring additions, bakery R&D, food-development samples and small portions where a one- or two-gram step would be too coarse. The tradeoff is capacity: the entire gross load, including the container, must remain within 300 g. A cup works; a large plate or mixing bowl often does not.
SK-5000WP: 11 lb capacity for plates, meat, seafood and retail food
SK-5000WP moves into general foodservice and market-counter territory with 5000 g / 11 lb capacity and a larger 232 × 192 mm pan. Its 2 g / 0.005 lb division is coarser than HL, but that is appropriate for many seafood portions, meat, produce, plates, prepared foods and retail packages. It also uses six D cells and A&D lists about 1,200 hours of alkaline operation under stated conditions, compared with about 200 hours from six AA cells on HL-300WP.
Exact NTEP difference: HL-300WP no, SK-5000WP yes
HL-300WP is not on NTEP CoC 05-008A1. That Class III certificate covers HL-3000WPN and HL-3000LWPN at 3000 g × 1 g. SK-5000WP is explicitly listed on current Class III CoC 98-086A3 at 5000 g × 2 g, 11 lb × 0.005 lb and 176 oz × 0.1 oz. If a customer's price is determined directly from the scale reading and 11 lb capacity is sufficient, SK-5000WP is the legal-for-trade model of these two, subject to correct sealing/installation and local weights-and-measures requirements.
Why the SK certificate number may look different on older product pages
MNM's SK-5000WP product page still references older CoC 98-086A2. The current certificate is 98-086A3. A3 superseded A2, added the ounce unit for SK-5000WP and clarified the sealing mechanism. The model remains NTEP; the useful correction is the current revision number and exact certified units, not a change from approved to unapproved status.
NSF compliance on both families
A&D identifies both HL-WP and SK-WP as NSF compliant food-equipment families. NSF relates to hygienic equipment design and cleanability; it is separate from NTEP. HL-300WP can be NSF-compliant and still not legal for trade. SK-5000WP can be both NSF-compliant and NTEP-certified because it meets separate sanitation and metrology requirements.
IP65 and AC power on both models
Both families are currently specified IP65 in their intended protected configuration, which means dust-tight construction and protection against water jets under the standard test—not immersion. A&D states that the protected IP65 condition does not apply when the optional AC adapter is used. Battery power is therefore attractive in wet food stations. Protect external power connections and do not assume either scale can be submerged or pressure-washed without limit.
Pan and container fit
HL-300WP's 128 mm square pan favors small cups, sample dishes and ingredient containers. SK-5000WP's roughly 9.1 × 7.5 in pan accommodates plates, trays, seafood containers and many retail packages. A container may overhang only if it remains stable and touches nothing else. Physical fit matters as much as nominal capacity because a load touching the bench can bypass the load cell and produce a false reading.
Accuracy versus displayed resolution
HL displays 0.1 g increments, but A&D lists approximately ±0.2 g non-linearity and 0.1 g repeatability. SK displays 2 g increments and MNM lists 2 g repeatability and ±4 g linearity. Neither should be selected by readability alone. Ask what tolerance the process actually needs, what load range is used, whether sale-by-weight approval is required, and how the scale will be verified in the real environment.
Which model for common applications?
Coffee/spices/small R&D: HL-300WP. Multi-pound meat/seafood/produce: SK-5000WP. Customer sales by weight within 11 lb: SK-5000WP because it is NTEP Class III. Internal recipe work below 300 g needing 0.1 g: HL-300WP. Large plates or packages: SK-5000WP. Need 0.01 g or 0.001 g: neither—choose a precision balance. Need legal-for-trade capacity above 11 lb: choose another certified platform/bench model sized for the load.
Frequently asked questions
Which has finer readability? HL-300WP at 0.1 g. Which has more capacity? SK-5000WP at 5000 g / 11 lb. Is HL-300WP NTEP? No; CoC 05-008A1 covers the 3000 g WPN models. Is SK-5000WP NTEP? Yes; current CoC 98-086A3 lists 5000 g × 2 g, 11 lb × 0.005 lb and 176 oz × 0.1 oz. Are both NSF compliant? A&D identifies both families as NSF compliant. Are both IP65? Yes in the intended protected configuration, but not with the optional AC adapter connected. Which is better for coffee? Usually HL. Which is better for seafood or multi-pound portions? Usually SK.
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